Rotary-valve mechanism for internal-combustion engines



June 24, 1930. w 'J. w|| K1NsoN ROTARY VALVE MECHANISM FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTIOiI ENGINES Filed Aug. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2% x2 IX Z5 6 Q.L

'INV EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS June 24, 1930. J. WILKINSON 1,765,556

ROTARY vALvE MECHANISM 1 0R INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 25,1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

' ATTORNEYS,

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES i JOHN WILKINSON, OF SYRACUSE, YORKApplication filed August 25, 1927. Serial No. 215,293.

This invention relates to internal combustion or explosion engines andhas for its object a particularly simple and eificient rotary valvemechanism therefor and more especial- 5 1y means whereby the rotor ofthe valve mechanism isseated on its side adjacent the cylinder portduring the compression and explosion period.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding 1 parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, parts being omitted, of a fourcycle engine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation,

partly in section. Figure 3 is a plan view. of parts seen in Figure 2.

This engine comprises, generally, a rotary valve mechanism associatedwith the engine cylinderand including a casing, a rotor in the casinghaving a transfer passage for communicating with a port in the cylinderand a port in the valve casing andmeans acting on the rotor to press therotor into snug engagement with the wall of the casing adjacent thecylinder port. 1

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, I have illustrated asingle rotor which controls both the intake and the exhaust through asingle port in the cylinder so that the transfer passage of the rotorcommunicates successively with the intake and cylinder port and thecylinder port and the exhaust port. i

1 is the cylinder. I

2 is theusual piston movable in the cylinder.

3 is the crank shaft with the crank 4 there- 5 is theupper half of thecrank case. The usual connecting rod is used, it being omitted in thedrawing. a j' v The cylinder is formed with a combined intake andexhaustport ti, this being; in the form of a slot, here shown as formedin the head of the cylinder. I

jacketed, although it is immaterial whether the engine is water or aircooled.

8 1s a rotor sultably mounted in the casing '7 and fitting thesame withenough clearance to rotate easily therein under all conditions.

The valve casing is also formed with intake and exhaust ports 9 and 10,these being also elongated or in the form of slots and opening into thevalve casing below the center thereof, that is, they are located on thesame side of a diameter of the valve casing so that they opensomewhat'tangentially into the valve casing.

The rotor is provided with a transfer passage 11 as long as the ports 6,9 and 10, and wide enough to time properly or permit the intake to enterand the exhaust to discharge through the port 6 while the rotor isrotating.

' In the illustrated embodiment of my in-. vention,.the rotor isprovided with three of such transfer passages 11 spaced equidistantlyapart, the number of these ports being dependent upon the gear ratiobetween the crank shaft3 and the rotor, it being understood that therotor is driven from-the crank shaft 3 in'any suitable manner. Whenthree transfer passages are used as illustrated, the ratio is 6 to 1,when two transfer passages are used, the ratio is 4 to 1 and if but oneis used, the ratio is 2 to 1. i

The means for applying pressure laterally to the rotor is arranged topress the wall of the rotor adjacent the engine port .11 snugly againstthe walls of the casing contiguous to .said port particularly during thecompression and: power strokes of the piston' Full pressure-ispreferably intermittently applied instead of being constantly applied,although itwill be understood that the spring is always applying somepressure to take up undue looseness. As here illustrated a bearing.member or shoe 12 is suitably guidedin the valve casing to engage therotor at an area diametrically opposite the cylinder port 6 and pressureis intermittently applied to the bearing member through mechanismactuated from the crank shaft of the engine, the mechanism here shownincluding a spring so that yielding pressure is applied to the bearingmember 12.

The mechanism for applying pressure to the bearing member 12 includes awalking beam 13 suitably mounted on the valve casing and having one armthereof thrusting against the bearing member 12 and the other armcoacting with a lifting means actuated by a cam 14 on a cam shaft 15driven in any well known manner from the crank shaft 3. The liftingmeans preferably includes a lift rod 16 having a follower 17 coactingwith the cam, the lift rod thrusting through a spring 18 on the walkingbeam 13. The spring also acts to take up any looseness when the cam andits follower at the ends of the walking beam in addition to deliver thevalve rotor and the valve casing. The walking beam is provided at itsother end with an adjusting screw 21 which coacts with one of theabutments 22 for the spring 18. This walking beam and associatedmechanism is similar to the mechanism for operating the poppet valves inthe heads of internal combustion engines. 5

The rotor may be of any suitable metal and fitted to the casing to havenecessary clearance to rotate easily therein at all temperatures.Inrotary'valve mechanism, however, the rotor must be sufficiently tightat certain times and prevented from leakage.

By my invention the rotor is pressed or seatedagainst the walls of thecasing adjacent the cylinder port more particularly during thecompression and power periods. By applying the pressure intermittently,undue friction on the rotor is avoided. Any lateral pressure willobviously be very little.

In multi-cylinder engines, there may be .one bearing member or shoe 12and walking beam mechanism for each cylinder, or there may be onebearing member or shoe for a plurality of cylinders and a walking beamfor each cylinder. The walking beam mechanism is'timed from the camshaft 15 in the same manner that the valves are timed in popsages 11,for the different cylinders of a multicylinder engine are located in therotor or the sections thereof according to the firing order of thecylinders.

In operation, assuming that the rotor rotates to the left in thedirection of the arrow, Figure 1, one of the transfer passages 11 firstcomes into communication with the cylinder port 6 and intake port 9permitting a charge to enter the cylinder during the suction strokethereof. During the compression stroke and power strokes, both theintake and exhaust passages 9, 10 are cut off with a full portion of therotor covering the cylinder port 6 and also during the power stroke andduring the compression and power stroke, the lift portion of the cam 14lifts the lift rod so that pressure is applied to the bearing member 12,the highest portion of the cam engaging the follower when the explosiontakes place. During the scavenging stroke, the passage 11 connects ports6 and 10.

Owing to the application of pressure laterally to the rotor so that ithas a seating action adjacent. the cylinder port, looseness and thedevelopment of looseness between the rotor and its casing is preventedand the rotary valve has the tightness of a poppet valve without thedetrimental features necessitating carbon removal and valve grinding.Owing to the single rotor for the intake and exhaust, the rotor is keptcool.

lVhat I claim is 1. In an internal combustion engine the combination ofa cylinder, a piston movable therein, the cylinder having a port, arotary valve mechanism comprising a casing having a port openingthereinto, the cylinder port also opening into the casing, a rotor inthe casing for closing the ports and having a transfer passage arrangedto connect the said ports at intervals during the rotation of the rotor,and means for intermittently applying yielding pressure at predeterminedintervals intervals whereby the pressure is applied to the rotor throughsaid spring.

2. In an internal combustion engine the combination of a cylinder, apiston movable therein, the cylinder having a port therein, a rotaryvalve mechanlsm comprising a casing having a port opening therelnto,thecylinder port also opening into the casing, a rotor in the casing foropening and closing said ports and having a transfer passage arranged toconnect ports at intervals during the rotation of the rotor and meansfor pressing the rotor toward the internal wall of the casing adjacentthe port at the cylinder, said means comprising a bearing memberpressing against the rotor, a walking beam coacting at one/end with thebearing member, a cam shaft and a motion transmitting means between theshaft and the other end of'the walking beam.

3. In an internal combustion engine the 5 of Onondaga,

combination of a cylinder, a piston movable therein, the cylinder havinga port therein, a rotary mechanism comprising a casing having a portopening thereinto, the cy inder port also opening into the caslng, arotor in the casing for opening and closing said ports and having atransfer passage arranged to connect the ports at intervals during therotation of the rotor and means for pressing the rotor toward theinternal Wall of the casing adjacent the port in the cylinder, saidmeans comprising a bearing member pressing radially against the rotortoward the cylinder a cam shaft and motion transmitting means etween thecam shaft and bearing member, including a spring.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, apiston movable in the cylinder, a rotary valve mechanism comprising acasing having a port opening thereinto, the cylinder port also openinginto the casing, a rotor in the casing which opens and closes said portsand having a transfer passage arranged to connect the ports at intervalsduring the rotation of the rotor and means for pressing the rotor towardthe internal wall of the casing adjacent the port in the cylinder, saidmeans comprising a bearing member pressing radially against the rotor, acam shaft and motion transmitting means between the cam shaft and thebearing member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Syracuse, in thecounty and State of New York, this 22nd day of Aug, 1927.

JOHN WILKINSON.

